as in pressure
the use of power to impose one's will on another
in that class I read books under compulsion that I ordinarily wouldn't have considered
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Recent Examples of compulsion
These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress.
—
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
These obsessions and compulsions can vary from person to person.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
The compulsion to build emotional connections with her customers is what drives Reid as an entrepreneur.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
Depending on your own compulsion for puzzle solving, rolling credits on Blue Prince may actually arrive closer to the start of your journey than the end.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
These obsessions and compulsions can vary from person to person.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 15 Dec. 2025
The compulsion to build emotional connections with her customers is what drives Reid as an entrepreneur.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025
Depending on your own compulsion for puzzle solving, rolling credits on Blue Prince may actually arrive closer to the start of your journey than the end.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 3 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for compulsion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for compulsion
Noun
-
To transmit more power, there are two ways – either a larger hose (thicker cables and higher current) or higher pressure (higher voltage).—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Around the same time, Southwest’s management came under pressure following an activist takeover by Elliott Investment Management.—
Dallas Morning News,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Experts point to restricted access to advanced chips and limited capital as lingering constraints.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Shein says Iran may be stalling diplomatically to see whether Washington limits talks to nuclear issues while avoiding missile constraints.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
No other group of voters must endure such regular coercion.—
Torsha Childs,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The other prohibits using threats, coercion or fraud in certain voting processes.—
Aysha Bagchi,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Fears of intimidation and impersonation Álvarez said the concerns stem from individuals allegedly posing as immigration agents in Dallas neighborhoods.—
Steve Pickett,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
These measures are vital to maintain public trust, prevent voter intimidation, and ensure that our elections can be administered securely, fairly, and transparently.—
State Rep. Matt Blumenthal,
Hartford Courant,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But some experts on gun violence are still wary of endorsing the program.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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The film delves into young sisters’ lives shaped by ancestral violence and the lasting impact of abuse.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Compulsion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/compulsion. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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